In Salinas this week, political theatre, which had just been absurd, crossed the line to despicable.

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A councilman, sworn to serve the city and uphold the law, actually denied his own identity. A person hired by the city to serve lawsuit documents on José Castañeda , that contemptuous councilman who’s also a school board member, was told by Castañeda that he had the wrong man. José Casteñeda actually said he was not José Castañeda.

Mr. Castañeda then proceeded to enter the council chambers and sit at his very own seat marked with that fancy name plate that says “José Castañeda.”

The Monterey County District Attorney Dean Filppo continues to maintain that since all this is a not a criminal matter, his office can’t get involved. But a public official lying and flouting the law can’t be dismissed as some political shenanigans. If this city councilman’s name was Joe Smith instead of Castañeda, and Joe Smith was pulling these stunts, you can bet Central Coast politicians and activist voters would be up-in-arms. But Mr. Castañeda drapes himself with the cloak of minority oppression, comparing his current ordeal to the noble struggle for civil rights. Dr. Martin Luther King was a man who respected the rule of law, even as he practiced civil disobedience. If Dr. King was alive and here in Salinas, we think he’d be mortified.

Salinas city leaders can’t be timid; Monterey County officials can’t stand off to the side. All leaders must bring full political and legal pressure to bear. This mockery of good order and representative government must come to an end.

At this point, our KSBW Editorial Board is not confident Mr. Castañeda is fit to serve in either of his elected roles -- but elected he is. So we say to him: pick one office and prove you’re there to do the right thing!